A series of summer strikes in Europe affecting flights, trains and hotels are threatening to derail British holidaymakers’ trips.
Ongoing strikes across mainland Europe are likely to cause delays and even cancellations, and travellers are being warned to plan accordingly to avoid the worst of the disruption.
Thousands of passengers have had their travel plans disrupted after low-cost airlines Ryanair and easyJet cancelled hundreds of flights due to French air traffic control strikes between 3-4 July. And more industrial action is planned over the next month.
Passengers are being warned that delays and cancellations may impact travel beyond the affected countries. Aircraft flying over French airspace to destinations including the UK, Ireland, Spain and Greece are also likely to be affected.
ITV News has the latest planned or anticipated strike action in Europe.
Spain
EasyJet cabin crew in Spain called a strike for June 25, 26, and 27, and the union have warned there could be an indefinite strike from August if meaningful negotiations do not take place.
About 60 Easyjet flights were cancelled every day in Spain during the most recent strike action.
Cabin crew for the budget airline say they earn the lowest crew wages in Europe and are demanding equal pay.
Holiday accommodation in parts of Spain will also be affected if planned industrial action goes ahead. Hotel workers in the Balearics are scheduled to strike in July after negotiations broke down over disagreements on wage increases, sick pay and contract lengths.
Approximately 180,000 workers are being called to strike for six days from July 10-16 , and the additional dates of July 18, 19, 25, 26 and 31.
If the strikes go ahead, services such as housekeeping, lifeguard, room service, restaurants and buffets could be disrupted.
Italy
There will be a number of rail and airport strikes in Italy during the summer holiday season.
A nationwide rail strike will be held from 9pm Monday July 7 to 6pm Tuesday July 8.
The strike action will affect long-distance, regional and commuter routes, meaning travellers should expect a reduction in services and longer wait times.
However, Italian law requires a minimum number of guaranteed train services during weekday strikes, so the rail routes will not be grinding to a halt.
Regional public transport walkouts are also expected in Sicily, Palermo and Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta during July, so check before you travel.
Air travel could be disrupted on July 10 as ground staff and baggage handlers at several Italian airports take part in a 24-hour strike.
Baggage handling will be affected at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Venice Marco Polo airports.
Drivers at Milan airports will also be walking out.
Additional protests are also expected at Cagliari Elmas airport on the island of Sardinia, and Naples airport on the same day, affecting check-ins, baggage collection and aircraft servicing.
And finally, Saturday July 26 will see a national airline and airport strike which will run from 1pm to 5pm. Significant delays for some travellers are expected if airline staff and airport ground workers walk out as expected.
The nationwide strike also coincides with strikes bySpanish airline Volotea pilots and cabin crew.
Italian law states any flights scheduled between 6am-9am and 6pm-9pm are protected from strike action, so check when your bookings are, and confirm your flight status directly with airlines.
France
French air traffic controllers are striking from 3-4 July with the national civil aviation authority warning travellers that “disruptions and long delays are to be expected at all French airports.”
Airlines have been dramatically hit by the disruption as flights coming to and from France, as well as flights going though French airspace are all affected.
Ryanair has cancelled more than 400 flights, impacting 70,000 passengers.
More strikes are anticipated over the summer months if an agreement can not be reached.
Air traffic controllers are calling for reinforced staffing levels, technical modernisation and a prioritisation of operational decisions.
One rail union has also filed an open-ended strike notice until September for railway staff, including ticket inspectors.
A previous strike, however, didn’t cause any disruption on the network, as drivers were not included.
Belgium
Belgium has had national strikes almost every month since January, in a protest against budget cuts and pension reforms.
The strikes have particularly affected Belgian air travel, 180,000 passengers are estimated to have been affected so far.
The last strike was June 25, where there were no outgoing flights from Brussels airport and over half of incoming flights were disrupted.
There were also no flights going in or out of Charleroi Airport.
The levels of disruption have led to calls for a minimum service during strike action at Brussels airport.
Each joint-strike action at the airport is estimated to have cost the Belgian economy €25 million.
There currently isn’t a general strike date set for the summer months, with the leading unions announcing joint action to take place in October.
However, it is wise to keep up to date and see if this changes.
Finland
National flag carrier Finnair will go on strike on the July 2, 4 and 7 with around 900 flights set to be cancelled.
The walk-outs are four-hours long on each day and will affect Helsinki airport.
Essential ground services such as baggage, catering and ground handling operations will be impacted as well.
Elsewhere
Ground crew from the Dutch flag carrier KLM were due to go on strike in late June, but this was blocked by a judge due to safety concerns.
It is unknown when strike action could be reinstated.
Greece also saw at least eight days of strike action in June affecting Adriatic ferries between Greece and Italy, but future strike action hasn’t yet been planned.
What should I do if my flight is delayed or cancelled due to strikes?If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to strike action, in most circumstances the airline is obligated to help you and/or provide compensation.
If you are flying with a UK or EU airline, or any airline departing from a UK or EU airport, you must be offered a refund or rerouted.
If your flight is cancelled due to airline staff striking, you are entitled to compensation – unless you were told about the cancellation at least two weeks before departure.
However, if your flight is affected by strikes out of the airlines control, such as airport, baggage handler or border force strikes, you likely won’t be entitled to compensation.
Which? has a compensation tool to help you calculate what you could be owed.
Before you book it is essential to check for strike dates affecting airlines, airports and the country you are travelling to.
European anti-tourism protests
The latest strikes come as anti-tourism protests are also expected across Europe.
Thousands of protesters turned out in southern Europe to demonstrate against overtourism, marching and using water pistols against unsuspecting tourists on June 15.
The marches were part of a coordinated effort by activists from southern Europe’s top destinations, including the Spanish destinations of Barcelona and Mallorca, as well as in Venice, Italy, and Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
Demonstrators say that overtourism is fuelling a housing crisis and erasing the character of their hometowns.
June was the largest joint action planned so far, with no future dates announced yet by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation.
However, smaller individual protests could still continue throughout the summer.
The UK Foreign Office advises that demonstrations, political gatherings or marches can take place with little warning.
They recommend holidaymakers to follow the advice of police and local authorities, and to be aware of your surroundings if a demonstration is taking place, and move away if there are signs of disorder.
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